The Foundation for Firelands 2019 Annual Report

THE “CADDYSHACK”
OPEN CELEBRATES
10 YEARS OF FUN
AND FUNDRAISING
In 2009 Alice Springer, director of development
for The Foundation for Firelands, was asked by
the hospital’s president and CEO to create a
charitable golf outing, with the money raised
to benefit Firelands Regional Health System
cancer patients. The summer was already full of
several well-established charity golf outings, and
Alice knew that for the event to be a success, it
would need a unique twist to draw participants.
Her solution: The “Caddyshack” Open. “The
inspiration for the event stemmed from my allmale,
golf-loving household. I have watched the
Caddyshack movie 20 times, at a minimum. Most
golfers love the film, due to its subtle satire of golf
and country club life. It seemed like the right,
and a fun, hook to attract golfers to participate,”
she says.
Craig Stahl, a Sandusky businessman, and a
former Sandusky city commissioner, was the
first individual Alice asked to join the planning
committee for the golf outing. He thought the
idea was crazy, and the event would be a failure.
“Boy, was I wrong! It has been a fantastic
fundraiser that has helped countless patients
at Firelands. I have never been involved in such
a worthy event, such as this golf outing. The
patients' stories about how these funds have
positively impacted their lives and relieved their
burdens have touched my soul. We are helping
so many people with life-altering diagnoses when
they need help most. That's why people like
to be involved and support the event. It’s
such a fun tournament; people love it!"
The “Caddyshack” Open celebrated its
tenth anniversary this year and has collectively
raised more than one million dollars to help
support Firelands' patients. In 2016, the golf
outing evolved into a two-day event with the
addition of "Comedy Night." Alice attended a
comedy club in Arizona in late 2015 and found
herself doubled over in laughter, listening to
comedian Jason Lawhead. His jokes centered
on growing up in a large family, and of all things,
Cleveland sports teams. Alice recalls, "At the
time, I thought to myself, a comedy club
with this type of relatable humor would
be a hit back home." Following the show,
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2019 Annual Report